« Home

Bush Report Card

And it ain't pretty.

In a report released by the former 9/11 Commission, they gave the government a failing grade with it comes to protecting America. They cited many areas in which the administration is failing to adequately respond. They found it unacceptable that four years after the attacks, first responders in major cities cannot reliably communicate and coordinate with one another (see Hurricane Katrina). Scarce domestic security funds are doled out based on what Commission Chairman Rep. Thomas Kean called “pork barrel spending, not risk."

Most tellingly the report gave the administration (which launched the Iraq war on the basis of reducing the threat weapons of mass destruction) a “D” in its efforts to secure WMD’s worldwide.

This report comes on the coattails of an announcement last week that the Transportation Security Administration would begin to allow certain items to be carried on airplanes that were banned shortly after 9/11. Some of these items include small scissors, wrenches, and screwdrivers of less then 7”. The TSA reports it is shifting its focus to better detecting explosives, which it considers a greater threat. Not surprisingly, Flight attendants and families of the victims of 9/11 are protesting the move.

Now while stopping the proliferation of WMD’s and protecting airlines is a worthwhile cause, something I have noticed that hasn’t garnered much attention (but could have devastating affects) is an attack on the chemical industry. There are hundreds of sites around the country where one well placed grenade or other explosive could lead to the release of potentially deadly gases. Just look at the events earlier this year near Graniteville SC and you will know what I’m talking about. Nine people died and hundreds were hospitalized when chlorine gas began to leak from a derailed tanker. And yet in some areas of the country, these facilities lack even basic security measures (i.e. fences)

All of this leads me to one conclusion: Bush and his handlers are probably hoping for (and perhaps inviting) another attack. They probably see it as the only way to boost Bush’s sagging poll numbers and get the public back behind them on their misguided (and poorly executed) war on terror.

(Originally posted on Yahoo360)